looking for a pair of powerful headphones - Page 2

loudest headphones i have, hd 650s. they can get insanely loud without ever distorting, while most of my other headphones tend to have a smaller sound window before they start sounding bad.

 Really? even the LCD2's?

 

yup

i remember buying aportable amp but don't use it because my headphones don't need it... if you look around you can probably find the hd650 for around 300$ used in good condition.

I'll have to respectfully disagree with Gwarmi up there. The TMA-1 may not be perfect (and why should it be at $200?), but I really like the sound signature of it. Give it a try if you have the chance; apparently some Apple stores are carrying it now, although I haven't been able to find any that do in my area.

 Every other headphone even at $100 I've tried is far, far better - you might like the sound signature but I still feel

 that recommending a $200 headphone that sounds like a $20 headphone is just a tad reckless.

 

 Would you say it's comparable to the M50, Shure 840, or Ultrasone 580 for clarity for example? (excellent way

 of finding out that the driver is cheap and nasty)

 

I'll readily admit that I don't have a ton of experience with different headphones, but likening the TMA-1 to a $20 headphone is absurd. It's a marked improvement from, say, my HD 280s, and listening to it next to a low-cost (but still good-quality) headset like the PortaPro or PX 200 would immediately show the ridiculousness of your comparison.

 Improvement in what exactly compared to the PortaPro?

 

 Hey at least AiAiAi have a sense of humour - name of their TMA-1 special Edition?

 

 You could not get a professional comic to come up with a more hilarious yet apt name for these

 

  

 

 

FOOL'S GOLD TMA

 

 

Edited by Gwarmi - 1/29/12 at 9:44pm

Clarity? Bass power? Overall sound quality?

 

 

Anyway, I'd hate to sidetrack this thread with a pointless argument. I simply wanted to bring OP's attention to the headphone as an alternative to the HD 25, and if he has the chance to listen to the two of them he can decide for himself.

 That is wise advice

 

 Look I heap a lot of burden on that headphone because I love vocals and rock and it just does not deliver for me in that sense, club track 'mehh, it might

 appeal to some',.

 

Many DJ and studio headphones can be cranked up without distorting.

The thing is, does the OP wanted ear blowing volume to get hearing loss or just that he is using it outside and cannot listen over the noise? If it is the latter, I recommend you getting some IEMs to block out external noise instead of clanking the volume up over it.

Once again (LOL) HD25-1 II: isolates like IEMs. 

Well, there's also the Beyerdynamic T50p and DT1350 as far as good-sounding, compact, and good-looking (to me, of course - heck, they're two of the very best-looking to me) headphones (you will probably want to get these used to stay within or close to your budget).  There's also the beautiful ATH-ESW9, but that's a step down or two from HD25/T50p/DT1350 in terms of sound quality.

 

HD650?  Out of a Samsung phone?  Are you people serious?  No, not even the E6 will suffice at all.  You can scratch that one off of your list, soraxd.

 

Anyway, back to HD25, T50p, ESW9, and DT1350.  Then there's the infamous ATH-M50, but I know little about it, and then SRH840, but these are not quite as compact.  The Shures will benefit from the E6 most of all the ones mentioned in the thread, I guess.

HD650 out of any portable amp is not a good idea.

IEMs will definitely go louder than full-size headphones. Loud enough to give yourself enough hearing damage in a short enough time that in a few years you won't have to ask what headphones you need. Ever.

The Stax SR-001 system is also silly loud, and I'm not even sure if it's capable of distorting. Probably the best sounding portable option you can get short of high-end custom IEMs, but comfort could be better.